At first Edwin refused the invitation. But his wife managed to convince him. After all, the Moriarty brothers were not insane enough to attack him in front of a large party. The party was extravagant, even for people of such wealth. The finest desserts, sandwiches and teas. Even some wine options. The brothers seemed too distracted by their guests to even notice Edwin had arrived. So, the Earl felt relatively safe. 'Maybe they actually don't care about that brother of theirs. He was adopted after all. So not being blood related they didn't care if he died. After all why would they invite me here if they did care about him?' He wondered.
He sat down by a large group of people and began to try some of the desserts. "Exquisite taste. I wonder what sort of occasion they are celebrating." One of the guests asked. Since surely the brothers were celebrating something with all this fine food and drinks. "Dear, you should try this wine. It's almost otherworldly." Liza smiled handing him a glass. Edwin nodded and sipped the wine.
"Ah,.. Very sweet, almost like a syrup. Peculiar, yet good..." He mumbled finishing the peculiar drink. Liza smiled and nodded at Albert who was nearby. Albert gestured for William and the two went upstairs. Liza then snapped her fingers and whispered softly into Edwin's ear. "Follow me." She got up and he followed her upstairs.
Edwin stumbled up the stairs almost as if he were drunk and once he reached a spare room he looked around. Liza snapped her fingers again and he seemed to be aware of his surroundings again. "What, where am I?" He looked around confused as to what was happening. "You are in the guest room Lord Morris." William said hiding in the shadows. "What, who said that, why am I here?" Edwin asked. "To put it bluntly. Revenge." William stepped out of the shadows. Edwin's eyes widened, then realized his wife had set him up. "You deceitful bitch!" He yelled raising his hand to strike her. But to his surprise a pale hand grabbed his wrist stopping him.
He looked back to see who the hand belonged too, and gasped. "Impossible." He trembled seeing Louis James Moriarty staring at him. "You're dead! I know you are! I saw your body!" He yelled in terror trying to push away. He began to back away, not noticing he was getting dangerously close to the bedroom window. "Stay away!" He growled pulling out a gun and waving it around. Not realizing the window was opened as he took one more step backwards and fell.
William watched emotionlessly as Edwin fell out the window into an iron fence below impaling himself. "Considering everyone knows he drinks too much at parties. This will be seen as an unfortunate accident." Liza smiled, knowing it was over with. "As per our deal. I will leave the country, and here." She handed a small vial to William. "It may take a while. But this will purge the drug from his system completely." She said bowing to William and Albert.
She opened her mouth to say more, but a scream was heard below from someone finding the body. Sighing she ran off before they could ask her anything else about 'Louis'. The constable was called for. Wine on Edwin's breath, and reports of him stumbling upstairs was enough proof to label his death an accident.
Everyone was questioned before being sent home. And once home William made sure Louis drank the strange substance Liza gave him. The medicine seemed to make him instantly drowsy, and he fell asleep rather quickly. Once asleep William went to speak with Albert. "He has taken the antidote. Unsure how all of this will affect his mind once the drug wears off." He stated calmly. "At least the nightmare is over with." Albert sighed, sitting down and glancing at the broken glasses still on his desk.
"I'll watch over him. Encase he wakes up and there are negative side effects to the medicine." William said softly, going back to watch over Louis as he slept. Albert stayed in the study, unable to sleep from all that had happened. William looked at the sleeping figure sadly. He gently brushed the hair away from Louis' cheek and eyes. As he did so he noticed something odd.
Tracing his finger gently over where Louis' scar would be his eyes widened in shock. Louis stirred slightly and opened his eyes for a moment. "Brother ...?" He said in almost a whisper. "Yes, it's me. You just get some more rest...Louis." William smiled slightly and watched as Louis fell back asleep.